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Actress and trailblazing producer Marsai Martin is taking her commitment to youth empowerment to the next level. Through her nonprofit, Marsai’s Way Foundation , the young mogul has partnered with Seeds of Fortune Inc. to reach 10,000 young women over the next three years with financial education, mentorship, and access to wealth-building resources, according to a press release. The partnership officially kicked off June 6 at the Seed Forum: Women of Color Creating Wealth Summit, an event designed to offer young women a rare opportunity to connect with financial leaders and gain insight into how they can grow into economic powerhouses of their own. “At Seeds of Fortune, we believe education is the foundation of economic equity,” Nitiya Walker, founder and executive director of Seeds of Fortune Inc., said in a statement. “Our partnership with Marsai’s Way Foundation allows us to scale this mission and deliver financial literacy, mentorship, and career access to thousands of young...
At only 17-years-old, Marsai Martin has already accomplished so much. As previously reported by AfroTech, she made history after launching her production company Genius Productions — making her the youngest Black executive producer ever. In addition to leading her company, she’s also the head boss over at Mari By Marsai — her nail line. Even with all of the endeavors on her plate, Martin is committed to supporting others as the Gen Z role model is uplifting fellow teens, according to PEOPLE.
Citi is following through on its promises to eliminate overdraft fees. The financial institution is now one of the only top five banks in the U.S. (based on assets) to completely get rid of various charges affecting consumers daily. Now, those with Citi Retail Banking consumer deposit accounts no longer have to worry about overdraft fees, returned item fees, or overdraft protection fees. The move is a part of the bank’s ongoing commitment to providing financial inclusion for individuals in underserved communities. As previously shared by AfroTech, the bank is also on a mission to advance economic progress across the nation. Protection from overdraft fees doesn’t just stop at consumers seeing an extra charge or two on their bank account. Citi provides options for combating the issues. As a part of the new overdraft protection services, they will offer two choices for consumers looking to cover negative balance transactions. One includes Safety Check, which transfers available funds...
Black creatives push the culture forward, period. Premium bottled water brand LIFEWTR has remained committed to serving as a source of inspiration and hydration through its latest initiative alongside actress and creative Marsai Martin. Martin will serve as the Creative Curator of Black Art Rising, where she will contribute, collaborate with, and spotlight some of the best in the game when it comes to Black content creators in the newly formed LIFEWTR TikTok medium. Courtesy of Life Water “Having grown up in the entertainment industry and being a creative myself, I’ve seen the lack of resources and representation within the Black content creator community,” said Martin in an official statement. “That’s why I’m excited to partner with LIFEWTR and their Black Art Rising campaign. Being able to create opportunities that spotlight and celebrate Black digital creators who are pushing the culture forward is something I will always support.” Continuing the digital content leg of the...
Pesky overdraft fees could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a historic move by Citi. The United States bank has revealed plans to drop its overdraft fees just in time for summer vacation, CNN reports. “This latest enhancement is a significant step for Citi as a leader in the banking industry offering the most consumer-friendly overdraft practices,” Gonzalo Luchetti, CEO of US Personal Banking at Citi, said in a statement . “We are continuously looking for ways to utilize our industry-leading capabilities to make the financial system easier and more equitable for communities who have little or no financial buffer.”
Investment deals can be intimidating for many. Here to save the day, emerging platform Amass is looking to meet people where they are and provide them access to lucrative investment opportunities. Founded by former NFL Coach and Bestselling Author Daron K. Roberts alongside Abby Coleman and Harold Hughes, Amass generates Black capital by providing community, knowledge, and access to its members-only investment platform. The Black community will have an opportunity to change its economic position through alternative investment vehicles. This will be helpful, since according to a report, Black Americans fall short when it comes to financial literacy and comprehending risks and investment deals, correctly answering 38 percent of personal finance questions in comparison to white Americans who answered 55 percent accurately. “We all know this disparity is neither an accident nor a coincidence. And, I believe we can push back against this gap by acquiring assets that have the potential to...
George Acheampong is on a mission to create Black wealth. Over a decade ago, while Acheampong was working as the only Black advisor at his firm, he realized that the Black community needed to see someone who looked like them to feel empowered along their financial journey. He then geared up to launch a platform designed to make financial literacy accessible and affordable to Black communities. “People of color are worthy of wealth and they need to have a platform uniquely designed for their financial journey. I have been a financial advisor for 10 years and saw how little representation there was when I first started. I wanted to open doors and help people of color feel more confident about their finances,” George Acheampong told AfroTech.
Fresh off an impressive WNBA finals run, Skylar Diggins-Smith is striving to level the playing field on a new court. The Phoenix Mercury guard will be partnering with investment platform Public to steer conversations centered around women’s pay equity and building wealth. A partnership of this sort is nothing new for someone like Diggins-Smith, who has been a prominent advocate for the pay gap between men’s and women’s sports. She continues to place herself in positions to invest in a more equitable future for all women. “During my time in the WNBA, I’ve thought a lot and spoken up about how to improve our pay equity as players. But this is an important conversation to have outside of sports, too,” Skylar Diggins-Smith told AfroTech exclusively. “Investing in the stock market can be a great way to build long-term wealth, and I’m excited to work with Public to help the next generation of investors, especially women of color, start investing in the public markets and themselves.” As a...
With the help of financial innovations, the road to financial freedom is becoming more accessible for Black people and communities of color, and Qoins is a fintech startup helping to lead the way in continuing the streak of progress. Since its launch, Qoins’ mission has focused on helping their users pay off their debt and put money into their savings. Qoins’ strides in the financial wellness space have seen continued success and the app recently reached its latest milestone of paying over $20 million in consumer debt, according to a press release provided to AfroTech. “People of color, we tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to interest rates,” co-founder Nate Washington tells AfroTech. “I can go into a whole spiel about how the credit score system is against us. For us, being able to see that impact and continue to get those testimonials where people tell us, ‘Hey, you really helped me pay off my student loans or my credit card and now I can actually do something...
Last year marked a pivotal moment in time for change and equality, specifically for Black communities. The happenings in the digital space and social media have shown us the importance of amplifying Black creators and influencers who are often overlooked. Now thanks to companies like Fanbytes, we’ll be able to break the cycle of underrepresentation in creative industries. According to AdWeek, the London-based influencer marketer agency — launched by CEO and founder Timothy Armoo in 2017 — was created to help big brands discover new interactive ways to engage with Gen Z audiences around the world. With initiatives like the Fanbytes Impact Fund, the goal for Fanbytes is to now help Black-owned businesses get the funding they need as well as help Black creators gain more visibility in mainstream spaces. “What happened with George Floyd, it made me realize even more that I had this platform and I had a responsibility to do something,” Armoo told the outlet. “And I didn’t want to just do...
Young people are more curious than ever about how to achieve financial freedom. Thanks to Marsai Martin’s new digital venture, she’s helping kids her age learn everything they need to know about money management. The Hollywood actress announced that she’s teamed up with Verizon Media’s Gen Z platform, In The Know, to launch “Money With Marsai Martin” — a video finance series hosting honest and candid conversations about financial wellness for young people. From the importance of setting financial goals early on to the benefits of having a side hustle, Martin is using her platform to spread her knowledge of wealth. “Becoming financially independent has been such an important part of my journey both personally and professionally, so I’m excited to partner with In The Know to share what I’ve learned from my experiences with people my own age,” Martin said in a statement. “As one of the most successful and entrepreneurial generations in history, it’s important for us to prioritize...